Folding kite structure



July 23, 1.963 R. D. FlNKLEA 3,098,634

FOLDING KITE STRUCTURE Filed April 25, 1963 19 ATTOJME'X United States Patent 3,098,634 FOLDING KITE STRUCTURE Robert D. Finklea, 1801 E. Medlock, Phoenix 16, Ariz. Filed Apr. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 275,731 3 Claims. (Cl. 244-153) This invention pertains to kite structures and is particularly directed to an improved folding kite structure.

This application is related to copending application Serial No. 260,098, filed February 18, 1963.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a kite structure of greater durability and improved flying performance which can be readily folded flat for shipping and instantly opened out ready for flying.

A further object is to provide a folding kite structure of extreme rigidity and high performance in flight which requires no skill or labor to prepare the kite for flight from a folded flat condition for shipping.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the kite unfolded ready for flight.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the kite shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right hand side elevation of the kite shown in 'FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

-FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the kite in the process of being folded flat.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown a kite structure comprising a main boxlike portion consisting of four parallel support members 1'1, 12, 13 and 14. The top outer ends of the support members 12 and 13 are rigidly connected together by the brace member .15 while the top outer ends of the support members 11 and -14 are rigidly connected together by the brace member 16. The bottom outer ends of the support members 12 and 13 are rigidly connected together by the brace member 17 While the bottom outer ends of the support members .11 and 14 are connected to gether by the brace member 18. The brace members 15 and 1-6 are pivotally interconnected at their intermediate points by a suitable pin :18-a and the brace members 17 and 18 are pivotally interconnected at their intermediate points by a suitable pin 19, best seen in FIG. 4. Brace members 20* and 21 are also fixed between intermediate portions of the support members .11 and 14, and a brace member 22 is fixed between intermediate portions of the support members 12 and 13. A laterally extending spar 23 is fixed at 24 intermediate the ends of the support members 12 and .13.

The areas 25, 26, 27 and 28 bounded by the brace members 15 and '16 and brace member 20 and spar 23 are covered by suitable sleeve of sheet material such as silk or plastic and the areas 29, 30-, 31 and 32 bounded by the brace members 17 and 18, and 21 and 22 are similarly covered. It is important to note that the material of the areas 25 and .26 is fixed to the supper member 12 between brace member 15- and spar 23 and the material of the areas 27 and 28 is fixed to the support member 13 between brace member 15 and the spar 23. The areas 26 and 27 are unattached to the support member 14 and the areas 25 and 28 are unattached to the support member (11. Similarly, the material of areas 29 and 30 is fixed to support member 12 between brace members 17 and 22 and the material of areas 31 and 32 is fixed to the support member 13 between brace members 17 and 22. The areas 30 and 31 are unattached to support member 14 and the areas 29 and 32 are unattached to the support member 1 1. As a result of the above described structure, the pivotally mounted folding box 3,098,634 Patented July 23, 1963 frame comprising the rigidly connected together members 11, 14, 1'6 and 13 may be swung about the pivot pins 1'8a and 19 to extended flying position shown in FIG. 2 or to collapsed flattened position shown in FIG. 5. Suit able webbing material 33 and 34 is formed between the outer ends 35 and 36 of the spar 23 and the ends of the support members 12 and .13 as best shown in FIG. '1, the webbing being preferably positioned on the windward side of the spar 23.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alternation without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangements and commercial adaptations as fall within the scope of the appendant claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A folding kite structure comprising in combination:

a. a main collapsible box-like portion consisting of,

b. four parallel support members,

0. a brace fixed to the top outer ends of the first two diagonally opopsite parallel support members,

d. a brace fixed to the bottom outer ends of said first two diagonally opposite parallel support members,

e. a spar fixed to said first two diagonally opposite parallel support members intermediate the ends thereof,

f. a brace fixed to said first two diagonally opposite parallel support members intermediate the ends thereof,

g. a folding box frame consisting of the other two diagonally opposite parallel support members,

h. braces fixed to the top and bottom outer ends of said other two support members,

i. means pivotally interconnecting the mid-points of said brace fixed to the top outer ends of said first support members and said brace fixed to the top ends of said other support members,

means pivotally interconnecting the mid-points of said brace fixed to the bottom outer ends of said first support members and said brace fixed to the bottom ends of said other support members,

k. a sleeve of sheet material extending around the periphery of said four parallel support members between the top ends thereof and said spar,

l. a further sleeve of sheet material extending around the periphery of said four parallel support members between the bottom ends thereof and said intermediate brace,

m. and means for attaching said sleeves of sheet material solely to said first two mentioned diagonally opposite parallel support members while said sleeves are unattached relative to said other diagonally opposite parallel support members so that said folded box frame may swing to and from a flat folded position from an opened out flying position.

2. A folding kite structure comprising in combination:

a. a main collapsible box-like portion consisting of,

b. four parallel support members,

c. a brace fixed to the top outer ends of the first two diagonally opposite parallel support members,

d. a brace fixed to the bottom outer ends of said first two diagonally opposite parallel support members,

e. a spar fixed to said first two diagonally opposite parallel support members intermediate the ends thereof,

7. a brace fixed to said first two diagonally opposite parallel support members intermediate the ends thereof,

g. a folding box frame consisting of the other two diagonally opposite parallel support members,

h. braces fixed to the top and bottom outer ends of said means pivotally interconnecting the mid-points of said brace fixed to the bottom outer ends of said first support members and said brace fixed to the bottom ends of said other support members,

k. a sleeve of sheet material extending around the periphery of said four parallel support members between the top ends thereof and said spar,

. a further sleeve of sheet material extending around the periphery of said four parallel support members between the bottom ends thereof and said intermediat brace,

m. means for attaching said sleeves of sheet material solely to said first two mentioned diagonally opposite parallel support members while said sleeves are unattached relative to said other diagonally opposite 2 parallel support members so that said folded box frame may swing to and from a flat folded position from an opened out flying position,

. and sheet material webbing extending between the outer ends of said spar and said first two diagonally opposite parallel support members.

. A box kite structure comprising in combination: a plurality of four parallel support members, means interconnecting each of two diagonally opposite support members to form two rectangular frame structures,

. means for pivotally interconnecting the mid-points of the shorter sides of said rectangular frame structure,

d. longitudinally spaced sleeves around the longer sides of said pivotally connected rectangular frame connected to two of said diagonally opposite parallel support members while unattached relative to the other of said parallel support members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,386,762 WheeIWright Oct. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 371,059 France Ian. 10, 1907 

3. A BOX KITE STRUCTURE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A. A PLURALITY OF FOUR PARALLEL SUPPORT MEMBERS, B. MEANS INTERCONNECTING EACH OF TWO DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE SUPPORT MEMBERS TO FORM TWO RECTANGULAR FRAME STRUCTURES, C. MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING THE MID-POINTS OF THE SHORTER SIDES OF SAID RECTANGULAR FRAME STRUCTURE, D. LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SLEEVES AROUND THE LONGER SIDES OF SAID PIVOTALLY CONNECTED RECTANGULAR FRAME CONNECTED TO TWO OF SAID DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE PARALLEL SUPPORT MEMBERS WHILE UNATTACHED RELATIVE TO THE OTHER OF SAID PARALLEL SUPPORT MEMBERS. 